Principal Policy Partnership Director

Shape the Future of First Nations VET Policy Across Australia

• Lead one of the most influential policy partnerships in the country
• Executive Package circa $220,000 (inclusive of super)
• Operate at the centre of national decision-making
• Bring alignment, clarity, and influence to complex reform

A New National Chapter Begins

The Indigenous Centre of Vocational Excellence (ICOVE) is a First Nations-led national initiative established under the Australian Government’s National Skills Agreement, aligned with Closing the Gap reforms.

Delivered in partnership between Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (KAMS) and Tranby Aboriginal Co-operative, ICOVE has been created to strengthen how the vocational education and training (VET) system works for First Nations people — enabling better pathways into meaningful employment through stronger policy, improved capability, and more effective system design.

More than a traditional peak body, ICOVE represents a new national architecture — bringing together policy, research, innovation, and sector capability into a coordinated, system-level approach.

With ICOVE being built from the ground up, this is a unique opportunity to step into a foundational leadership role and shape a structure that will influence outcomes across Australia for years to come.

For more information, please visit:

• ICOVE 
• Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (KAMS)
• Tranby Aboriginal Co-operative

The Opportunity & Your Impact

This isn’t a typical leadership role.

You’re not just overseeing policy — you’re shaping how it’s coordinated, aligned, and delivered at the highest level.

As Principal Policy Partnership Director, you lead the engine behind one of the most influential policy forums in the country, ensuring diverse stakeholders come together with a clear, unified voice that informs national decision-making.

KAMS / ICOVE is seeking a full-time Principal Policy Partnership Director based in Australia (remote, with strong preference for Canberra), reporting to the Executive Director. You’ll lead the Policy Partnership Secretariat, driving coordination, engagement, and influence across government, community, and sector stakeholders.

More specifically, your responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Leading the Policy Partnership Secretariat and associated workstreams
• Preparing high-quality briefings, reports, and submissions
• Coordinating stakeholder engagement, meetings, and governance processes
• Supporting executive leadership and the Chair in high-level discussions
• Managing relationships with government, Coalition of Peaks, and sector stakeholders
• Driving alignment across stakeholders ahead of national forums
• Overseeing reporting, outputs, and partnership deliverables

To read the full position description, please click here

Your First 12 Months: From Complexity to Influence

This role is about stepping into complexity and turning it into alignment and influence.

In your first few months, your focus will be on building a clear understanding of the existing policy partnership landscape while quickly getting across key stakeholders, priorities, and live work. You’ll be preparing for upcoming meetings, working through large volumes of briefing material, and establishing how you bring structure and coordination to a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.

From the outset, you’ll be expected to bring clarity, momentum, and confidence into the process.

As you progress, success in this role becomes less about activity and more about impact and cohesion.

Within your first 6–12 months, you’ll be:

• Delivering well-run, highly effective policy partnership meetings
• Ensuring stakeholders are aligned and prepared ahead of key national forums
• Building strong, trusted relationships across senior leaders and government
• Positioning ICOVE as a credible and influential voice nationally
• Creating structure, rhythm, and clarity across partnership activities

By this stage, you’re not just coordinating — you’re driving alignment and shaping how influence happens at scale.

The Culture You’ll Help Shape

You won’t just join this team — you’ll set the tone for how it operates.

This is an environment that is:

• Highly collaborative — success depends on partnership, not hierarchy
• Purpose-driven — everything ties back to outcomes for community
• Fast-moving and evolving — ambiguity is part of the work
• Courageous — tough conversations are expected, not avoided
• Respectful and culturally grounded — this is non-negotiable

You’ll be working across senior government stakeholders, Aboriginal community-controlled leaders, and policy professionals — and will need to operate confidently and respectfully across all.

Your Experience and Leadership Approach

To qualify, you will need extensive experience in policy leadership and stakeholder engagement. A minimum of 8–10+ years’ experience in senior policy roles will be essential.

Additionally, the following skills and background will be highly valued:

• Deep understanding of government and policy processes
• Experience working at senior levels across government or peak bodies
• Strong knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy contexts
• Proven ability to build and maintain high-level relationships
• Experience leading teams and complex work programs

As our ideal candidate, you are strategic, highly credible, and confident operating in complex stakeholder environments. You bring strong judgement, excellent communication skills, and the ability to align diverse groups toward a common goal.

This is a role for someone who can lead through influence, not authority.

What’s on Offer

In recognition of the impact, scope, and national significance of this role, you will receive a salary package circa $220,000 (inclusive of SUPER), alongside:

• Flexible, remote working arrangements
• Strong preference and opportunity for Canberra-based engagement
• Significant national travel and stakeholder exposure
• Direct engagement with ministers and senior decision-makers
• Opportunity to shape national policy and reform
• Leadership role within a purpose-driven, community-controlled organisation

If you are ready to operate at the highest level and drive meaningful national outcomes, we encourage you to APPLY TODAY!